Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-07
TIE ti>il russ.
Secretary Manuing's Letter Concerning
the Questions Under Discussions.
WAs,iINGroN. Feb 6

WAsuISGroN. Feb G.
Secretary Manning has sent to Chairman
Belmont of the House comm t,ee on foreign
Aft ,irs a long letter in reply To the commit
tees request for his views of the House and
81 nat. retaliation bills
The Secretary divides the subj ,ct 10 he
considered into two parts: first, the fishing
rights of the Cnt-d States, aud second, the
c numerical rights of United States vessels IN
cl,.s. he saws. are defined bv the treaties of
1888 and 1878, aud We do not ask either of
& eat Britain or Canada any other rg,ts or
liberties in taking, drying and curing f.h
than those stipulat d in such treaties
I'm resp, CT t. our commercial privileges
for fishing vessels in Canadian ports, con
iinues the secretary. 1.-The s,tuatInn Is other.
wise. Up to Pres,d mt Jackson's pruclama
tion OF October 3, 1880. This government had
no commercial privlleg = for its vessels in
Canadian ports. We obtained such privrIeut,
in 1880 BY AN arrank~ment OF legislation
finally conclu led with Great Britain Thl~
arraug ment WAS not technically treaty; ii
was contract sOlemnlzed and al tested by
the law max ng, instead of treaty making.
powers of the two naiions. What We are
now cnnfrOnled by is the royal assent given
by the Queen III council, November 26, 1856.
an act respecting fi-heries by foreign vessels
TINS law peremplorla,v closes Cnadlan
ports to our fishing vessels seeking tu trade
therein. 1t empowers designated officers to
bring to and search any Am-ricsn vessel be.
ing within any Canadi an hsrbor or 'h0vrring'
IN British waters. This Is a revival IN Can.
ada of the theory of the ancent Brush how
erIug act, long ago repealed in the mother
country.
1T the search prescribed and authorized
be OF fishing vessels lettering in a prohibited
place and fatty suspected Of preparing t.
FISH in violation of the law. such search, if
tiriy and reasonably made, NAV oe tolerated.
Our own customs law pre-crDes and author
lz-s similar search of foreign vessels, even
tour leagues from our coast
But the Canadian act thus having the
royal approval was intended, as ha. been
openly svowed, to forfeit any American Fl III
ing vessel found having entered Canadian
waters or the port Of iAlif4x to buy ice bait
or other articles, or for any purpose other
than shelter. repairs. wood or water
The plea ls that the treaty Of 1918 per-
mits and stlpulates for such legislation This
we deny, and reply that such legislation is a
repeal and annul menr by England of the ar
rangement made in 1880, and to that repeal
we are entitled TO 'respnnd' bv similar re-
peal of our own law and by a refusal to here
after confer any privileges or hospitality in
our ports upon Canadian vessels"
In considering the bull submitted to him
Sec Manning says: II the Senate bill shall
become a law aui the President shall issue
his proclamation hereunder, besides putting
an end to transit traffi;, its effect will be to
exclude from importation the Canadian free
goods, such as certain kinds of f.h, lumber
animals. to The amount of abous S25 00J 900
annually, and also of reducing the revenue
oy preventing the importation Of Canadian
dutIable products, sucn as lumber. bread
stuf., etc, in annual value say s22.-
000, 900, to the extent Of about S4, 600 900,
which will BE- probably duties collectable on
such goods during the present fiscal year, if
the present system of intercourse shall con-
tinue.
He recommended that there be no unnec-
essary ambigity in the law. and if locomo-
lives, railway rolling stock and cars are to
be excluded under any circumstances. Co n
gress should saw so in explicit terms. and all
vehicles containing or carving merch 4ndise,
should be distinctly excluded ii that be the
will of Congress.
Secretary Manning in conclusion su bmits
to the committee with the greatest Difference
the bill, which tomitting the preamble of
reasons and grou1ds) enacts that whenever
the President shall be satisfied that vessels
of the United States are by British or Cana
dian authority denied or abridged in the rea-
sonable enjoyment OF any rights, privileges
or liberties in Canadian waters or coasts or
Canadian ports which the right, privilege or
liberty such vessels, their masters or crsws
are entitled, it shall in bis discretion be law
full, and it shall in his discretion be the duty